Scientists Pinpoint Origins of Kissing to Early Human Ancestors
LONDON – A new study suggests that lip-to-lip kissing isn’t a uniquely human behavior, and traces its roots back hundreds of thousands of years, possibly to our early hominin ancestors. Researchers have steadfast that the practice likely began after humans diverged from other primates, but was established long before modern Homo sapiens existed.
the research, led by Dr. Natalia Brindle, challenges the assumption that kissing is a learned behavior tied to cultural evolution. Instead, the findings indicate a biological basis for the intimate act, suggesting it developed as humans evolved distinct facial structures. This finding offers a new lens through which to understand the evolution of intimacy and social bonding, and could reshape how we view similar behaviors in other species.
Dr. Brindle explained that the study focused on the neurological and anatomical changes that occurred as humans evolved, specifically examining the presence of nerves in the lips and the progress of facial musculature. ”We found evidence that the neural circuitry supporting kissing was likely not present in our primate ancestors,” she stated.”This suggests that kissing as we know it emerged sometime after humans split from those ancestors.”
The study indicates that the behavior likely arose as humans developed more pronounced lips and a greater sensitivity in those areas. The researchers hypothesize that early forms of kissing may have originated from behaviors like food sharing or grooming,gradually evolving into a more intimate expression.
While the study establishes when kissing likely began, the why remains a mystery. Several theories are being explored, including the idea that kissing evolved as a way to assess a partner’s health or genetic compatibility. It could also be a continuation of grooming behaviors seen in apes.
“It’s critically important for us to understand that this is something we share with our non-human relatives,” Dr. Brindle emphasized. “We need to examine this behavior,not find it stupid just because it has a romantic context in people.” She hopes this research will spur further investigation into the evolutionary origins of intimacy and social connection.
